GeoEye selects BAE Systems’ software for 3D mapping of airports

California, USA, 8 August 2006: GeoEye, a commercial remote sensing imaging company, has selected BAE Systems’ SOCET SET and ClearFlite software for a project that will create 3-D maps for hundreds of airports worldwide. Pilots and air traffic controllers will be able to use the new maps to guide aircraft into and out of airports.

The National Geospatial intelligence Agency (NGA) had awarded GeoEye a $3.7 million contract in June to complete the 3D mapping project, which involves the creation of airport mapping databases for 365 airports by June 2007. NGA and other international standards organizations define the database specifications for airport authorities.

GeoEye will combine the 3D capability of its IKONOS and OrbView-3 stereo imagery with BAE Systems’ SOCET SET and ClearFlite software to create the detailed maps. BAE Systems’ SOCET SET geospatial analysis software is used to create digital elevation models, while ClearFlite, a SOCET SET module, extracts the information from stereo images required to build the mapping databases.

“The project is about getting aircraft into and out of airports safely,” said Dejan Damjanovic, Program Manager for GeoEye. “The databases will help NGA scout the safest paths and allow companies to build simulators to familiarize pilots with hazards. ClearFlite supports that need by providing precise measurements derived from photographs, rather than data collected from manual surveys.”

The current project is the largest of three airport mapping database awards GeoEye has received from the NGA since 1999 for large-scale mapping projects using IKONOS stereo imagery in parallel with SOCET SET and ClearFlite software.

To know more about GeoEye and BAE Systems visit: www.geoeye.com, www.na.baesystems.com